It dates back to British maritime law from the 1600s and pirate ships on the open sea. When the owner of the ship was unknown and likely residing halfway aroun

It dates back to British maritime law from the 1600s and pirate ships on the open sea. When the owner of the ship was unknown and likely residing halfway around the world, the thinking was just seize the ship and charge the property itself with the crime. Obviously this makes zero sense when applied to an American citizen driving their car down a public highway with some cash in their possession, but here we are.